DIY Network

India Join Cathie and Steve for a crafter's virtual visit to India. From "Creative Juice" episode DCRJ-503

Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza are bringing home the beautiful designs and sweet smells of India. They hammer out a distinctive silver studded jewelry box, use intricate henna patterns to give napkins a surprising new look and have a ball capturing an incredible potpourri of rich aromas.

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Hammered-Silver Jewelry Box

Hammered-Silver Jewelry Box

You don’t need to be a silversmith to make beautiful pieces of decorative art for the home.

Materials:

unfinished wooden jewelry box
wood stain
gem glue
sheet of sterling silver (30-gauge is easy to cut with household scissors)
household scissors
transfer paper
pencil
jewelry or small craft hammer
jewelry saw (optional, required for smaller-gauge metals)
wood block or cutting board
jewelry file set
safety glasses

1. Remove the front hardware clasp and apply a coat of wood stain to the jewelry box (figure A). Let stain dry and apply additional coats, as desired, drying between each coat.

2. Choose a shape for the silver box top (figure B).

3. Using transfer paper and a pencil, transfer the shape outline to a sheet of silver (figure C).

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

4. Cut out the shape from the silver and file the edges with a jewelry file set (figure D). Be very careful with the sharp edges of the metal. Use flat files along linear edges and a round file to create round corners. File in one direction only (figure E).

Figure D

Figure E

5. Using the round end of a jewelry or small craft hammer, hammer silver shape on a wooden block or cutting board (figure F).

6. Clean the silver with silver polish and attach the shape to the box with gem glue (figure G).

7. Re-attach the original clasp or glue decorative silver beads to the front of the box (figure H).

Figure F

Figure G

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